A cross-party group of MPs has raised concerns over the exclusion of religious education (RE) from the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), writes Sam Adams.
In a report published last week, the House of Commons Education Select Committee says it fears that the Coalition Government's decision to omit RE from the list of five key EBacc subjects "indirectly discriminates" against Catholic and other faith schools, and undermines its place in the curriculum.

The EBacc was introduced last year as a new measure of attainment for pupils at GCSE level and recognises those who gain grade C or above in English, maths, two sciences, a language and history or geography. The group's findings were welcomed by the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales.

Meanwhile, campaigners for RE to be part of the EBacc hope the matter will be debated in Parliament. Sir George Young, Leader of the House, has proposed a system for MPs to consider petitions which have been signed by more than 100,000 people. A group recently gathered 140,000 signatures calling for RE's inclusion.